Dartboard Backlight Circuit with Vibration Damper
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing dartboards face issues with reliable backlighting due to light-emitting diodes failing from vibrations, and the process of removing stuck arrowheads is cumbersome, requiring extensive disassembly and reassembly for precise adjustments.
Innovation Solution
A game target with a backlight circuit board positioned indirectly behind the spider structure, featuring light-emitting diodes mounted on the circuit board, a rubber-like damper plate, and switching contact elements, allowing for decoupling from immediate movements and enabling precise alignment without re-adjustment, along with a detachable spider for easy maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If light-emitting diodes are installed directly on the inside of a hitting element, then the dartboard can be illuminated, but wire breaks in the connections of these light-emitting diodes appear due to vibrations from hitting darts
Solution Approach 1:
The dartboard structure is segmented into multiple layers: the hitting element layer, the damper plate layer, and the circuit board layer. The light-emitting diodes are placed on the circuit board layer, separated from the hitting elements by the damper plate, thus isolating the LEDs from vibration-induced wire breaks while maintaining illumination functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
A damper plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the hitting elements and the circuit board with light-emitting diodes. This damper plate absorbs and dampens the vibrations caused by dart impacts, protecting the LED connections from mechanical stress and wire breaks, while still allowing the LEDs to illuminate the hitting elements effectively.
2Ease of repair
If the entire dartboard is dismantled to remove broken arrowheads, then the arrowheads can be removed from behind, but the process takes considerable time due to disassembly and reassembly
Solution Approach 1:
The dartboard is designed with a segmented structure where the spider (support framework) can be detached from the carrier. This allows the hitting elements to be accessed and repaired by simply removing the spider, without needing to disassemble the entire dartboard including the carrier and detection arrangements, thus significantly reducing repair time.
Solution Approach 2:
The spider is designed to be detachably connected to the carrier, allowing it to be easily removed and reattached. This dynamic connection enables quick access to the hitting elements for maintenance and repair, eliminating the need for permanent or complex fastening mechanisms that would require extensive disassembly and reassembly.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the spider is permanently attached to the carrier, then the structure is stable, but adjustments between the carrier and detection arrangements cannot be made
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the spider and the carrier is designed to be detachable rather than permanent. This dynamic connection allows the spider to be removed and reattached, enabling adjustments to the detection arrangements and carrier positioning while maintaining structural stability during gameplay. The detachable design provides both stability when assembled and adaptability when adjustment is needed.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution provides reliable and long-lasting backlighting with minimal adjustment effort and ensures precise alignment of components, facilitating easy removal and reinstallation of broken arrowheads, enhancing the durability and usability of the dartboard.
Implementation Method 1
a light-emitting diode, which is designed to illuminate the target element from behind when activated, is mounted on the backlight circuit board
Implementation Method 2
a rubber-like damper plate... the damper plate serving to decouple the circuit board with the light-emitting diodes from the immediate movements of the hitting elements and the triggering organs
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4a
AI summary
The game board and/or dartboard (1) has a support (11), and target elements (3-6) individually movable relative to each other and including an inner surface and an outer surface lying opposite to the support. The inner and outer surfaces have openings (53, 61, 72). A LED is attached to a region of one of the target elements on a backlighting printed circuit board (92) at outside an opening (93) of foot contact elements (32, 42, 47, 55, 69, 78). Contact elements of another printed circuit board (91) are actuated by plugging a damping element (82) and by operating the foot contact elements.